Ron Lee wrote:

Andrew, I have had concerns about Cirrus pilots after reading of some
of the parachute deployments. This just adds fuel even if not
statistically significant.

The only deployment about which I've read any real details was the one near
Westchester (which makes it relatively local to me). From what I
understood and recall, he responded largely to a brief blackout he
experienced (from a previously undiagnosed nerve or brain condition, I
believe).

I read and heard a lot of criticism of his choice to deploy. I'm not sure
why. First of all, why are we so quick to criticize the choices of other
pilots? They are, after all, PIC just as we are.

Sure, there are questionable pilots out there. The pattern-hogging 182
driver to whom I referred earlier is definitely one; I've several examples
in his case and have tried to talk to him about it.

The Cirrus driver that barged into your pattern might have been one too.

Still, I like to think that these are the exception rather than the rule.

Back to the deployment in Westchester: in that specific case, was he wrong?
Sure, he very likely could have continued the flight to a successful
conclusion. But there was a chance of a repeated blackout, and the pilot
had no data from which to extrapolate the likelyhood of this.

If that did occur, it could easily put not just the pilot and aircraft at
risk, but also those under his flight path. Weschester is pretty crowded.
And wouldn't *that* just do wonders for GA?

So the pilot made a very conservative choice. He paid his aircraft, and
risked his own life, to do so. I might have made a different choice, but I
don't feel it appropriate to criticize the pilot's.

Admittedly, I've a bias. I lust after Cirruses a bit. For a while, I
thought one might be in my future (though now I lean more towards another
pair of seats).

- Andrew